Objective: This study aims to elucidate the impact of a singular myofascial release session employing Dry Needling (DN) on step length within a complete gait cycle among individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Background: Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) frequently encounter muscle rigidity, a symptom contributing to postural deviations such as stooped posture and gait irregularities. Among these disturbances, shortened step length is a prevalent manifestation. Dry Needling (DN) emerges as a potential therapeutic avenue, targeting muscle tightness and restricted motion by stimulating trigger points (TP) via needle insertion. Despite its efficacy in various conditions, the application of DN to alleviate muscle tension in individuals with PD remains underexplored.
Method: This study recruited fifteen participants diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in stages 1 to 3, as per the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Assessment of gait parameters occurred both before and immediately following the intervention. The intervention consisted of a 30-minute session focusing on myofascial release, specifically targeting trigger points (TP) within the bilateral upper trapezius muscles using the Dry Needling (DN) technique. Gait analysis took place within a controlled laboratory environment, with step length quantified utilizing Kinovea software.
Results: In the paired t-test conducted, the results indicate that there was no statistically significant difference in step length. The p-value obtained was 0.588, suggesting that the observed difference between the paired means was not statistically significant Furthermore, the t-value obtained was -0.554. This negative t-value indicates that the mean difference between the paired samples was slightly negative, implying that, on average, the outcome variable decreased slightly after the intervention. However, this difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: he DN intervention did not show significance in influencing at the gait parameter under investigation. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up is warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Tahara, A. Gastaldi, A. Chinaglia, V. Tumas, P. Santiago. Examining the Impact of a Single Session of Myofascial Release via Dry Needling on Step Length in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/examining-the-impact-of-a-single-session-of-myofascial-release-via-dry-needling-on-step-length-in-individuals-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/examining-the-impact-of-a-single-session-of-myofascial-release-via-dry-needling-on-step-length-in-individuals-with-parkinsons-disease/